Caisson and method of making the same



C. E. FOWLER CAISSON AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME 5, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.

IIVI/E/UTOB,

WITNESSES 'A TTOHNEYS.

Fatented Dec. 39, 192%,

UNITE CHARLES EVAN FO'WLER, OF NEW YO'EK, N. "Z.

CAISSON AND METHQD 0F BEARING THE SAME.

-App1ication filed. December T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. Fowmm, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, in-the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Caisson and Method of Making the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in caissons and the method of making the same, an object of the invention, being to provide an improved construction of caisson for foundations of buildings or other structures which affords effectual resistance to downward movement by reason of an im proved construction and arrangement of V fins or fans integrally formed thereon.

The use of wells or caissons for foundations of buildings, or other structures such as ordinarily made, does not afford sufficient bearing area on the bottom for anything except rock, where large loads are to be carried and it is, therefore, necessary to rely upon skin friction which is uncertain and of doubtful value and it is the purpose of my invention to provide a construction having an improved arrangement of fins or fans integrally formed on the caisson and properly arranged and proportioned so as to give efficient results under all conditions,

A further object is to provide improved steps of a method whereby the earth can be properly formed as a mold into which the concrete re-enforced as may be desired, may be located and shaped to form my improved caisson.

The invention, therefore, consists in certain features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts and in certain novel steps in the method, all of which will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of my improved casing or form which is built up and positioned in the well in carrying out my improved method. 7

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in longitudinal section, showing the earth with the well properly 5, 1923. Serial 1T0. 578,742.

formed therein so that when filled with concrete, will result in a caisson of my improved construction.

Figure 4: is a view partly in elevation but mainly in longitudinal section, showing the completed caisson in'the ground.

Figure 5 is an end view of a slightly modified form of caisson.

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the caisson shown in Figure 5.

Figures 7 and 8 are views similar to Figures 5 and 6, illustrating another modificaion.

In carrying out my improved method, I employ a form or casing 1 indicated in Figures 1 and 2 which is built up or otherwise positioned within a well 2 which is formed in the ground 3. This easing 1 is composed of a plurality of circular series of relatively short and narrow staves 4 which are held in proper relation to each other and to the well by means of expansible rings 6 which may be rendered adjustable in any approved manner.

After the well 2 is formed in the ground and the casing 1 positioned therein, certain of the staves 4 can be removed by loosening the rings 6 and through the openings in the casing -1 provided by the removal of these staves, the workmen can cut recesses 5 in the earth at the wall of the well so that when the casing is removed and the well filled with concrete, these recesses 5 will constitute molds and the concrete shaped therein to form fins 7 on the caisson 10 such as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 or fans 8 such as shown in Figures 7 and 8. It is of course to be understood that after the fin holes are made the form in its entirety is removed and the concrete poured into the mold to form a pile or caisson.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, but single staves or portions thereof are removed and the fins 7 which are thus provided after the caisson is made, are relatively narrow and are arranged in circular series with the fins of adjacent series having staggered relation to each other. Furthermore, I would call attention to the fact that the lowermost fins project laterally from the body of the. caisson a relatively short distance while the fins of the succeeding series upwardly project increasingly in relative proportion. Hence, the shortest fins are at the lower portion of the caisson and the longest fins adjacent the top. By reason of this construction, an equalizing of resistance'to downward movement is had becauseit'is a well known fact that the resistance of the earth at the surface is appreciable less than at the lower points and proportionately so. Hence, by projecting the lugs or fins proportlonately and in reg ular ratio an equilibrium of the resistance is provided. To strengthen the fins or lugs,

I. preferably locate re-enforcing bars 9 therein, said bars being of varying sizes ac cording to the length of the fin and embedded both in the fin and in the body of the caisson. I would also call attention to the fact that the. lower faces of all the fins or lugs are flat and at a right angle to the surface of the caisson, the other outer surfaces of the fins being of any desired shape but preferably giving to the fin a general taper inwardly from its lower to its upper end.

In OOIIStIUCtlII a caisson such as illusb trated in Fi ures 5 and6 where the fins are appreciably wider Y than that shown in Fi ure 4: more than one of the staves of the cas'ingl can be removed and the shape of the fins or lugs controlled entirelyby the desire of the builder.

In constructing acaisson such as shown in Figures 7 and 8 where annular fans are formed on the caisson,- it is, ofcourse, necessary to remove an annular series of staves in order to permit the proper recessing of the well wallto'providea mold for saidfans. r

It is obvious that a great latitude is'possible in the shape and arrangement of fins, lugs or fans which may be formed on the caisson without departing from the invention and, hence, I do not wish to be limited to the precise shapes or designs shown as body, the. fins of adjacent series having staggered relation to each other. 7 V

4. A caisson, comprising a body, a plurality of circular series of outwardly projecting lugs or fins on the body, jacent series having staggered relationto each other, and the fins of the respective series increasing in length in regular proportion upwardly. 4 4

5. The herein described method, consisting in forming a Well, locating a casing in the well, removing sections otthe casing,

cutting molds in the wall of thewell by in-,

serting' an instrument through the casing then removing the casing, and then filling said well and recesses with a composition to form a caisson. I 6. Theherein described method of form ing caissons, consisting in first providing a well in the ground, then positioning 'asectional casing or formin the swell, neXtre-f moving sections of the. casing, then insertlng an lnstrumentthroughthe openings in the casings thus formed and shaping recesses in the wall of the well, then removing the casing and next pouring concrete into the well to fill-the same and the recesses and during such pouring locating reinforcing bars in the fins formed in the recesses and in the body of the caisson.

enAR ns EVAN FOWL R."

a plural the fins of ad- 

